Alberta couple fined $100K over poaching convictions

An Alberta couple has been handed $100,000 in fines after pleading guilty to numerous convictions in one of the largest illegal hunting investigations ever carried out in the province.

Former hunting guide Chris Brophy and his partner Michelle Hazeloh originally faced a whopping 131 charges under the provincial Wildlife Act related to poaching game-farm deer out of season and then abandoning the bodies. But 110 of the charges were dropped after the couple agreed Tuesday to plead guilty to 21 of the offences.

Court heard the couple would typically slay deer out of season and at night, removing the head and leaving the rest of the animal behind.

In the end, they were found guilty of charges that included: hunting with prohibited firearms; firing from a motor vehicle; hunting on a domestic game farm; hunting without licenses; and illegally abandoning edible meat.

In addition to the $100,000 fine, Brophy and Hazeloh must give up their Hummer, which prosecutors said they used to carry out their crimes. The couple is also banned from hunting for 25 years.